Electrostatically atomizing unit for use in a temperature-regulating appliance

Abstract

An electrostatically atomizing unit for use in a temperature regulating appliance to add a function of generating a mist of charged minute water particles for deodorization and/or sterilization of a temperature-regulated space. The appliance has a cold space of which air is cooled by cooling means and is fed to cool the temperature-regulated space divided from the cold space by a partition. The atomizing unit has an emitter electrode which is configured to condense water from within a surrounding air. A high voltage source applies a high voltage to the emitter electrode to atomize the condensed water into the charged minute water particles which are discharged from the emitter electrode into the temperature-regulated space. The emitter electrode is provided with a cooling coupler which establishes a heat transfer relation through the partition to the cold space to cool the emitter electrode by making the use of the cooling means inherent to the appliance.

1. A temperature-regulating appliance equipped with cooling means and an electrostatically atomizing unit,
 said appliance being configured to have a temperature-regulated space and a cold space divided by a partition, said temperature-regulated space being configured to have its temperature regulated by an air from said cold space cooled by said cooling means, 
 said atomizing unit comprising: 
 an emitter electrode being configured to condense thereon water from within the surrounding air when being cooled; 
 a high voltage source being configured to apply a high voltage to the water on said emitter electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing it into a mist of charged minute water particles; 
 wherein 
 said emitter electrode is configured to have its front end exposed to said temperature-regulated space and to have its opposite rear end held in heat transfer relation with said cold space through said partition so as to be cooled by said cold space for condensing the water on said emitter electrode, and 
 said atomizing unit comprises a casing configured to accommodate the emitter electrode and the high voltage source, said casing having a front wall and a rear wall spaced from each other, and being mounted at its rear wall on said partition, said front wall being formed with an outlet for introducing the air from said temperature-regulated space and discharging said mist into said temperature-regulated space, and 
 said emitter electrode being provided with a cooling coupler which projects out through said rear wall into said partition, only said cooling coupler projecting into said partition. 
 
     
     
       2. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said partition is formed partly with a reduced-thickness portion which receives a projecting end of said cooling coupler. 
 
     
     
       3. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 said partition is formed in its surface with a recess which defines said reduced-thickness portion. 
 
     
     
       4. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said atomizing unit includes an opposed electrode held in an opposite relation with the front end of said emitter electrode, 
 high voltage source being connected to apply the high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode with said emitter electrode being connected to a potential nearer to a ground potential than said opposed electrode. 
 
     
     
       5. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 said emitter electrode is held in heat transfer relation with a heating jacket which is configured to heat said emitter electrode, 
 said atomizing unit includes a controller which is configured to detect a temperature difference between said cold space and said temperature regulated space and activate said heating jacket only when said temperature difference exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       6. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said cooling coupler is surrounded by a frame. 
     
     
       7. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the rear end of said emitter electrode is embedded into said cooling coupler. 
     
     
       8. A temperature-regulating appliance equipped with cooling means and an electrostatically atomizing unit,
 said appliance being configured to have a temperature-regulated space and a cold space divided by a partition, said temperature-regulated space being configured to have its temperature regulated by an air from said cold space cooled by said cooling means, 
 said atomizing unit comprising: 
 an emitter electrode being configured to condense thereon water from within the surrounding air when being cooled; 
 a high voltage source being configured to apply a high voltage to the water on said emitter electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing it into a mist of charged minute water particles; 
 wherein 
 said emitter electrode is configured to have its front end exposed to said temperature-regulated space and to have its opposite rear end held in heat transfer relation with said cold space through said partition so as to be cooled by said cold space for condensing the water on said emitter electrode, and 
 said atomizing unit comprises a casing configured to accommodate the emitter electrode and the high voltage source, said casing having a front wall and a rear wall spaced from each other, and being mounted at its rear wall on said partition, said front wall being formed with an outlet for introducing the air from said temperature-regulated space and discharging said mist into said temperature-regulated space, 
 said emitter electrode being configured to project its rear end out through said rear wall into said partition. 
 
     
     
       9. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein
 said emitter electrode is surrounded by a cooling jacket, said cooling jacket having a larger volume than said emitter electrode and being disposed within said casing. 
 
     
     
       10. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said cooling jacket is surrounded by a frame. 
     
     
       11. A temperature-regulating appliance as set forth in  claim 8 , only said emitter electrode projecting into said partition.